2005 Softball Preview

Mar 16, 2005

March 16, 2005

The Bears will head into the 2005 season with a veteran team, ready to defend their Ivy League title. Playing a much tougher non-conference schedule this season, Head Coach Pam McCreesh hopes to continue the team's steady improvement since she took the reins four seasons ago. Returning to the Bear's line-up this year will be Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-Ivy selection Uchenna Omokaro (Hercules, CA), Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Ivy selection Courtney Jenkins (Piedmont, CA), along with Jaimie Wirkowski (Edison, NJ), who earned Second Team All-Ivy honors. The trio will join eight other returning letterwinners as well as five incoming freshman who will look to make an immediate impact in the Brown line-up.

On The Hill:
Omokaro was the dominant pitcher in the Ivy League, shutting down opposing bats, recording 65 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched, with a team best 2.35 ERA. Omokaro led the pitching squad, after coming off an injury last year with an overall record of 7-4 and a 6-1 mark in Ivy League play. Senior Marissa Berkes (El Segundo, CA), who will split time with Omokaro on the mound, played in 22 games, striking out 52 batters in a team-high 97.0 innings of work. Berkes posted an ERA of 3.46, second best to Omokaro.

Around the Horn:
Wirkowski and Jenkins will anchor the Bear's infield at third and first respectively. Wirkowski played and started in 38 games and ranked second on the team and fifth in the Ivy League with a .362 batting average, on 42 hits in 116 at bats. Jenkins played and started in all 39 games and led the team and ranked third in the Ivy League with 36 runs batted in. With nine homeruns last season, tying for third in the Ancient Eight, Jenkins already ranks third in career homeruns at Brown. Junior Mary Seid (Spring Valley, CA) who batted .298 last season, and sophomore Melissa Ota (Irvine, CA) will look to be solid contributors.